# Obama and speechwriters **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-speechwriters/480391 "2009-01-08T16:44:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-speechwriters/480391/1 "2009-01-08T16:44:53Z")
How much does Obama rely upon speechwriters, and how much of his speeches does he write himself? The conclusion to the speech he just gave about the economic situation–while lacking specifics–was rhetorically very well-written, with, for example, subtle references to FDR. (I’ll have to go over the transcript.) I doubt the average person listening–even live on a Thursday morning–is going to catch such references. This speech was probably directed to Congress: “Get moving on this thing fast, because we’re approaching a depression.” But is he the one who actually comes up with these subtle turns of phrase? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-speechwriters/480391/2 "2009-01-08T16:59:57Z")
Obama has a speechwriter who does a lot of the work. A young guy, too. Here’s an article about him: > **[Obama's Speechwriter Speaks Up](https://www.newsweek.com/obamas-speechwriter-speaks-87019)** > > The speech lit a fire. Meet Obama's editor. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-speechwriters/480391/3 "2009-01-08T17:12:50Z")
A few articles about Favreau, with a little attention being paid to the other writers: [From the New York Times:](http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/obamas-speechwriter-moves-to-the-white-house/?scp=2&sq=favreau%20obama&st=cse) > [@](#): > > While legend has it that Mr. Obama writes his own speeches longhand on a legal pad, a better historical account will show that he offers input and Mr. Favreau crafts them. [Favreau in the Times:](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D02E0D8163DF934A25751C1A96E9C8B63&scp=3&sq=favreau%20obama&st=cse) > [@](#): > > ‘‘He gives me lines that he wants to use, phrases, ideas – he sends me e-mails with chunks of outlines and speeches – so it’s a real collaborative effort. It’s very much a two-way street. It’s a little bit like being Tom Brady’s quarterback coach.’’ From [a longer piece in The Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/17/AR2008121703903.html) (this is on page 2): > [@](#): > > [Favreau]hired speechwriters Rhodes and Adam Frankel – and, a year later, former Clinton speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz – and together they crafted the speeches Obama delivered on the night of each primary. > > The writers could sometimes crank out a 1,500-word speech in one or two days, working in Obama’s Chicago headquarters almost until sunrise. Sometimes, it took Favreau and his team hours to conceptualize the opening few lines. They gathered in a tiny office and formed sentences out loud, each word mulled and debated, until suddenly – yes! – they could envision the whole speech. Shortly after this the article details Obama’s Philadelphia speech, “A More Perfect Union,” and credits it almost entirely to Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-speechwriters/480391/4 "2009-01-08T17:26:21Z")
They’re going to be even busier in the White House. There’s a steady stream of presidential speeches and statements for this, that and the other event, anniversary and commemoration that need to be written. There’s no way any single individual could keep up with it all. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-speechwriters/480391/5 "2009-01-08T19:04:51Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > They’re going to be even busier in the White House. There’s a steady stream of presidential speeches and statements for this, that and the other event, anniversary and commemoration that need to be written. There’s no way any single individual could keep up with it all. Yup - a good speech takes time to write: research, forethought, multiple drafts. And a president gives so damn many speeches there is just no way he could have time to hand craft every one by himself. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-speechwriters/480391/6 "2009-01-08T21:28:03Z")
I would say not only does he have a speech writer he has several. One of the things about Obama is he speaks very differently to different audiences. Now-a-days it’s not enough to be yourself, you have to be yourself to a specific audience. ---
**Author:** ![WoodenTaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@WoodenTaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WoodenTaco)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-speechwriters/480391/7 "2009-01-08T21:45:15Z")
Didn’t Obama write his [big speech on race](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/us/politics/18text-obama.html) himself? I think I remember hearing that. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-speechwriters/480391/8 "2009-01-08T23:50:53Z")
Yes, he pretty much wrote the Philadelphia speech himself. By the way, about the quote from Favreau, cited above, “It’s a little bit like being Tom Brady’s quarterback coach,” he had a better version I saw someplace else. He said it was like being Ted Williams’ batting coach. Kid’s about 27 years old and has the wisdom and chops of a much older person.